Many people have a skewed idea of what "metabolism" means. Contrary to popular belief, it is rarely the cause for weight gain, which is ultimately tied to your caloric intake and physical activity levels. Metabolism is a natural process that occurs in everyone. Different factors can influence your metabolic rate, but this rate does not determine if you will have excess body fat.
Defining Metabolism
Metabolism is a chemical process that turns the foods and beverages you consume into energy. Even when you are at rest, your body needs energy to complete functions such as breathing, blood circulation, body temperature control, muscle contraction, food digestion and elimination. Metabolism can be split into two categories: catabolism and anabolism. Catabolism is the process of breaking down molecules. Anabolism is the process of rebuilding molecules.
Factors of Metabolism
Several factors can influence metabolic rate. One is body composition. If you are bigger or have more muscle, your body needs to use more calories than it would for a smaller person. Your gender plays a role because men typically have more muscle than females. Muscle burns more calories. As you age, it's true that your metabolism can slow down. This happens because you have less muscle and more fat on your body. With less muscle comes a lesser amount of calories burned. Your body's process of digesting, absorbing, transporting and storing food accounts for about 10 percent of your calorie allowance. The final factor that influences metabolism is physical activity.
Boosting Metabolism
Beware of diet pills and supplements that claim to boost your metabolism. These claims aren't tested, and you shouldn't expect that a pill can burn calories for you. Instead, try intensifying your workout. If you're not into lifting weights, add it to your exercise regimen -- twice a week on nonconsecutive days. Boosting your cardio intensity will also help you rev up your metabolism. Think about your diet in terms of metabolism. Your body tries to conserve energy while you sleep, and this process continues until you eat again. Eating breakfast is essential to getting your metabolism up and running for the day. The same goes for eating throughout the day. Don't wait too long in between meals before eating again. Instead, graze on healthy snacks all day long.
Metabolic Disorders
A metabolic disorder occurs when the metabolic process is disrupted. This usually occurs with some sort of adverse chemical reaction. Your body typically will have too much or too little of a substance that in turn alters your overall health. A metabolic disorder can also be developed when certain organs no longer function normally. Examples of metabolic disorders include Crohn's Disease and diabetes.
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